Sewing machine



. 4, 1945. J. SCHIFTER SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

J. SCHIFTER SEWING MACHINE Dec. 4, 1945.

Filed Feb. 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

J. SCHIFTER SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JOSEPH 5CHIFTR BY 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 4, 1945 SEWING MACHINE Joseph Schifter, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Columbia Blindstitch Machine 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 2, 1940, Serial No. 316,892

18 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines.

It is an object of the invention to use a substantially conventional sewing machine head, with very little change in the operating mechanism, for making an imitation hand stitch, a stitch which may hereinafter be termed a saddle stitch.

It is an object of the invention to provid mechanism for making a saddle stitch in which the stitch formation is effected by simple, conveniently accessible, and easily adjustable parts, and where such parts are capable of incorporation into sewing machines now being produced, with but minor changes in such sewing machines.

It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus for producing, by a machine involving a minimum number of parts, simply assembled and easilyadjustable, a stitch closely imitating hand stitching.

Other objects of this invention will be set forth hereinafter, or will be apparent from the description and the drawings in which are illustrated embodiments of apparatus exemplifying the invention.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to any particular construction, or any particular arrangement of parts, or any particular application of any such construction or arrangement of parts, or any specific method of operation, or any of various details thereof, herein shown and described, as the same may be modified in various particulars or be applied in many varied relations without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, of which the exemplifying embodiments, herein shown and described, are intended only to be illustrative. but not to show all the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied.

On the drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to the same parts throughout, and in which the exemplifying embodiments appear:

Fig. l is an elevational view of a machine embodying certain features of the invention, parts being shown in dotted lines and broken away;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the machine shown in Fig. l, to slightly smaller scale;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view, to an enlarged scale, of the needles and stitch-forming mechanism of the machine shown in Fig. 1, associated parts of the stitch-forming mechanism being shown in dot-and-dash lines, and other parts being broken away in cross-section for the purposes of clarity;

Fig. 4 is a detail elevational view, illustrating the association of a part of the stitch-forming mechanism, parts being shown broken away in cross-section, substantially as seen from the line 4-4, of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of a part of the stitch-forming mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail elevational view, parts being shown in cross-section, illustrating a stage of the stitch-forming operation in which the needles have been extended through the fabric;

Fig. 7 is a view, similar to Fig. 6, showing a portion of a subsequent stage of the stitch-form;- ing operation in which the thread has been distended by the hook from the thread-carrying needle past the hook needle;

Fig. 8 is a view, similar to Figs. 6 and 7, showing the complete subsequent stage of the stitch-forming operation in which the finger has come into action to press the distended loop against the hook needle;

Fi 9 is a plan view, the hook being shown in section, illustrating the functioning of the parts in their relationship shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view, partly in crosssection, illustrating the stitch produced by appa. ratus such as shown in the drawings;

Fig. 11 is a view, similar in part to Fig. 3, but showing a modified construction of the operating elements of the stitch-forming mechanism, the presser foot and details of the feeding mechanism not being shown; and

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 11.

The invention will be illustrated in the form it may take when applied to a well-known and conventional sewing machine It]. Such a sewing machine may include a base I2 having the usual hollow upright bracket l4 extending upwardly therefrom, the hollow arm l6 extending, in substantially the usual manner, over base l2 to present the usual front bearing upright l8 immedi-v ately over needle plate 20 provided in base I2. Upright 18 may, provide bores or other suitable guides in which may slide presser foot bar 22 and needle bar 24. In arm l6 may be positioned a shaft 26 (shown dotted, and onl in part) from which, by suitable mechanism (not shown), reciprocating motion is imparted to needle bar 24.

.A combined pulley-and-hand wheel 28 is attached to the shaft at the end thereof extending beyond arm l6, and provides for association therewith of a belt or other suitable means for driving the machine.

Needle bar 24, at its lower end, is provided with a chuck 30 for receiving a pair of needles.

These needles are thread-carrying needle 32 and hook needle 34. Thread-carrying needle 32 receives a single thread 36 from any suitable spool or other source of supply through the necessary tensions and feed pick-ups, which need not be specifically designated here. Both needles are reciprocated-:.by-' the sneedle bar to pass through an opening: 38- in presser foot 40 and openings 42 in the needle plate to penetrate fabric 44 which may have been positioned upon the needl'ee.

plate. The presser foot, carried by bar.22, .co.-

operates with feed dogs 46 (all but the teeth of which are shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 3), positioned beneath the baseandbperable to'move in, and be projected through, slots 46in needle plate 20 provided for that purpose. Of course,

the presser foot may be lifted free ofthe needle,

-may oscillate a, link'.58.to which feed dogs 46 may be fastened, the motion derived from link 58-being-- that necessary formotionof the feed dogs in the directionofieed, as, for instance, in the; direction of the arrow in Fig. 3. Bell crank 56, by engagement of -a roller 60'carried10n the end oi one of its. arms 62inayoke 640m link 58, effects-lifting and.lowering offeed dogs 46 into ..and out-of engagementlwith thecfab'ric and the .-presser foot;

Suitably mounted on the underside of'base.

I2, as. forinstance; in bearing lugs .63 'and 65 is ashaft'66. Lug 65-may.be.one of the feet 68 on which the base, and, therefore, the machine, maybe-rested. Suitable means may be provided fonrotating-shaft 66 from shaft.26. In the in-- stance shown, bevel gears Tllprovide engagement between: shaft 66 and i a vertical shaft 12,1the vertical shaft being driven from shaft 26 in any desired manner. In the instance shown in Fig... 1,

the: gear ratiois such that shaft 66 is driven.

twice as fast as shaft 26.

Shaft 66; at bearinglug 565, may have a. pin section '14 secured thereon, section 14being of larger cross-section than shaft '66 and being provided av bearing in lug 65. A pin I6extends laterally iromendface 'I8"of section 14, and is disposed .eccentrically relatively to the center of shaft.66. In. theinstance shown, the pin, integral with-section I4, extends into a slot 80 in an arm :82, so that a.roller.83 on the endof thepinengages the walls offthe slot. The arm is part of a unitary member 84 having a bearing section into a bore .88 of which a stud 90, fi'xed inbearing lug-65, extends. Slot 80 is disposed incarm -82 so. that, as shaft 86 rotates, roller 83,

of.pin I6 will slide .in.-slot 80 and oscillate. the arm; Thus slot 80 may'beangularly disposed in arm-82,: the degree oflangularity being; one of therfactors determining the amplitude of oscillation ot;arm;82-.. By changing the angularity,.

orcthe. position or. shaping or .any one or more on them,of-the slot, adifi'erent amplitude .or character of oscillation may be imparted to arm 62: The motionof.pin=16.within.slot 80, in

oscillating arm 82 about stud 90 as a center, im-

parts such movement to a plate 92, which is affixed to arm 82 at its upper end, and has a tooth 94 formed thereon, so that this tooth moves relatively to the needles in the manner to be described.

Member 84 also includes a rocker arm 96 which may be formed substantially integrally with bearing section 86'1from whicharm 82 extends subvstantiallyoppositely to arm 96. Extending from the lower end of rocker arm 96 is a pin 98 which may provide means for associating a ball-andsocket connection I00 between the pin and a link I02. The link has openings at its opposed ends, and witheaoh one of these openings is associated a ball-andelsocket.connection. The two connectionsi'are'hereshown turned so as to be disposed in1planes,ati90". to each other. The ball-andsocket connection I04 opposed to connection I00 is also associated'with a pin I06 which is substantially- 'integral with an arm I08. Arm I08 is afiixed to a spindle III), which is provided a bearing a sleeve I I2. The'sleeve is shown as fixed-iria bracket II4'which, in turn, is secured to'and extends downwardly from the bottom face of the base.

The spindle extends through the sleeve and the bracket'to a, position above the bracket, at which position an arm H6 is aflixed to the spindle. Arm II6 is thus positioned between tooth 94; even at'the= uppermost portion of the travel of the tooth, and needle plate 20. Arm II6 has an arcuately shaped pusher or plunger finger H8; the center of-"the are being substantially in spindleI I 0: The end of the finger'is formed with a pointI20and a-vertical edge I22. The position ofthe arc is such that, on oscillation of the finger, point I20' and edge I22 will be-moved betweenthe; needles when the needles extend through the needle plateandfabric on the needle plate, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

The needles-are shown linedup'in'the direction'of feed; of fabric as effected by dogs 46 in the directionindicated' by thearrow in Fig. 3. The direction of oscillation of arm 82, and,"therefore, of tooth 94, is, parallel to the direction of feed efiected by cooperation of dogs46 and presser foot'40i The tooth itself, as-shown in Figs. 5 and 6, asarm- 86is oscillated, is presented immediately'beside eye I24 of needle 32. When'needle 32carries thread 36 engaged in eye I24 through fabric '44, and then is started on retraction, the slack thus produced in the thread forms a loop I26. Tooth 94 is so presented that itwill engage within loop I26 thus formed. The tooth, engaging the loop and continuing its oscillation, isefiective to draw the thread from needle 32 towards and thenpast needle 34 and its book I28, as shown in Fig. '7.

At this stage of the operation, as shown in Figs. 8 andfi), finger II8- moves between the needles above tooth 94 and into engagement with the line I30 of thread forming loop I26 as drawn by the hook. The vertical edge I22 engages the line I30, which is prevented from sliding off by point I20, and this line is pressed by finger I I6 against needle 34, as shown in Fig.9, so'that hook I28, on retraction" of the needles; will" draw the loop through the-fabric to the outer side, where the transfer of thread and further interlock with the thread carried'b'y needle "32, follows in'pIO- ducingthe chain stitch. The engagement ot'finger IIBand line I30 takes place between tooth 94 and the fabric. Excessive breaking stress upon the thread is thus avoided, as the elasticity of the fabric contributes to facility in stretching the looponto hook- I28.

, feed dogs.

By proper feed adjustment, that is, by adjustment of the eccentricities and link motions entering into the travel of the feed dogs, the laying down of thread on the outside of the fabric is such that thread will be apparent only at intervals on the outside of the fabric. In order to produce saddle stitching, that is, imitation hand stitching, at the outside face of fabric, the feed must be such that the fabric, after the needles are withdrawn, will be moved sufiiciently so that needle 32 willagain penetrate the fabric at a position beyond the point through which the hook needle pulled the last loop. In this manner, thread will appear not as a continuous line, but, as seen on the piecel 32 of fabric in Fig. 10, at alternate positions I34.

Since the apparatus is timed so that shaft 66 rotates twice for every rotation of shaft 26, tooth 04 and its associated elements will oscillate twice for every reciprocation of needles 32 and 34. However, one of those oscillations will occur when the needles are retracted from the fabric and during the forward feeding movement of the Thus, the tooth and its associated elements will be ineffective during that stage. By such a relationship of arts. it is possible to utilize a cam not deeply cut, and yet obtain a rapid action of tooth 94 and finger I I8 so that they are effective in their respective oscillations in the very small time interval in which loop I 26 is being formed and during which the thread tension is released as the needles are being retracted but still remain positioned beneath the fabric. Then the hook needle draws through the fabric the loop from the slack thread at the threaded needle, brings that loop to the outside face of the fabric. and extends the loop as the fabric is fed so that needle 32, when it again moves downwardly, will engage within the loop which becomes released from hook I28 thereafter as the hook needle enters the fabric, and pushes the loop off the book. It is the repetition of these steps which, of course. produce the saddle stitch.

It is to be noted that, in timing the apparatus, it is possible to set tooth 94 in relation to the movement of the needles by setting shaft 66 with relation to shaft 26 through gears 10, one of the gears being conveniently supplied with a set-screw I36 or similar releasable securing means for that purpose, or in any other manner, as, for instance, by setting section 14 on shaft 66 through a suitable set-screw or similar means. As soon as the position of tooth 94 for proper cooperation with the needles has thus been determined. the setting of finger II 8 can be effected by adjusting crank arm I08 on spindle IIO. For this purpose, a clevis I40 contracted by a suitable screw is formed on the part of arm I08 engaging the spindle. In this manner, the two operating parts which must function in correctly timed relation to the needles may be set easily. The oscillations of tooth and finger are produced by a single cam action, that is, the engagement of pin 16 in slot 80.

In Figs. 11 and 12, a modification of the stitchforming mechanism has been shown. In this modification, only needles I42 and I44 are shown relatively to a base I46. These parts are substantially identical with needles 32 and 34 and base I2. Likewise, a shaft I 48 is carried in suitable bearings beneath base I46, and is similar in its structure and arrangement to shaft 66. Shaft I48 extends beyond a foot I50 in which the shaft is provided a bearing, and has a pin I52 provided on its end I54. This pin, like pin 16, en-

gages in slot I56 in an arm I58 which carries a plate I 60 upon which is provided a loop-engaging hook I 62.

Between foot I50 and arm I58, a cam I64 is carried on shaft I48. This cam may be affixed to shaft I48 in any desired manner, as, for instance, by means of a set-screw I66 which extends through the cam and engages the shaft, Of course, it is to be understood that, by this arrangement, cam I64 may be set or timed with relation to shaft I48 in determining certain of the operations of the apparatus.

Arm I58 is carried upon a stud I68 which is fixed in foot I50, a collar I10 retaining the arm in position upon the stud. The arm is oscillated by direct engagement of pin I52 in slot I56, and, by properly adjusting arm I58 with relation to shaft I48, tooth or hook I62 will be in timed relation to move past needles I42 and I44 for stretching a loop of thread from needle I 42 past needle I44.

In a bracket arm I12 carried from base I46, a stud I14 is anchored by suitable means such as clevis I16. On this stud is pivotally mounted a rocker arm I18 which extends upwardly towards the base and the needle plate. A roller I carried upon a pin I82 intermediately positioned on arm I18 is engaged within a groove I84 circumferentially formed in cam I64. From the uppermost portion of arm I18 extends a post I86 in which isfixed a pin or finger I88 having a point I90 and a vertical edge I92.

As shaft I48 rotates and oscillates hook I62, finger I88 will also be oscillated by engagement of pin I82 and its roller within groove I84. Finger I08 will thus be presented between needles I42 and I44 and in engagement with the loop stretched by hook I62 from needle I42 to needle I44. The effect of this engagement of finger I88 with the loop will be substantially identical with the effect of the engagement of finger IIB with loop I26.

Many other changes could be eifected in the particular apparatus designed, and in methods of operation and use set forth, and in specific details, thereof, without substantially departing from the invention intended to be defined in the claims, the specific description being merely of exemplifying embodiments in accordance with the statutes.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In combination, in a sewing machine, a base, a head extending from the base, a needle plate associated with the base, needles movable relatively to the head to cooperate with the needle plate, a drive in the head for the needles, a hook to engage a loop upon one needle and draw it in the direction of the other needle, a pusher for forcing the loop against the other needle, a shaft carried by the base and continuously rotated by said drive, a cam on one end of the shaft, a crank carried by said shaft end for mov' hook needle for engaging a thread loop on. the projected threaded needle' and drawingdtover and upon the hook of the hook needlegand a continuously rotating shaft for vibrating. the member, the shaft extending substantially up to and perpendicularly to the plane of vibration.

3; In combination, in a sewingmachine, a needle plate for supporting fabric in position to be stitched, a threaded needle and a hook needle movable together for projection through fabric supported upon the needle plate, means for moving the needles to project them through and to withdraw them from the supported fabric, a pivoted arm having a loop-engaging hook thereon, the arm being mounted for vibration to move the hook substantially in a plane immediately contiguous and. parallel toa plane including the threaded needle and the hook needle for engaging a thread loop on the projected threaded nee.- dle and drawing it over and upon the hook of the hook needle, and a continuously rotating shaft directly engaging the armfor vibrating the loop-engaging hook from the threaded needle to the hook needle.

4. In combination, in asewing machine, a needle plate for supporting fabricinposition to be stitched, a threaded needle and a hook needle movable together for projection through fabric supported upon the needle plate, means for moving the needles to' project them through and to withdraw them from the supported fabric, a continuously rotated shaft, a pivoted arm positioned to extend into immediate adjacency to the end of the shaft, interengaging means between the shaft end and the arm for converting the continuous rotation of the shaft into oscillating motion of the arm, the arm having a loop-engaging hook and being positioned in immediate adjacency to the path of movement of the needles, a loop pusher mounted to cooperate with the hook and the needles, and means for converting the rotational movement of the shaft into oscillating movement of the loop pusher.

5. In combination, in a sewing machine, a needle plate for supporting fabric in position to be stitched, a threaded needle and a hook needle movable together for projection through fabric supported upon the needle plate, means for moving the needles to project them through and to withdraw them from the supported fabric, a'continuously rotated shaft, a pivoted arm positioned to extend into immediate adjacency to the end of the shaft, interengaging means between the shaft end and the arm for converting the continuous rotation of the shaft into oscillating motion of the arm, the arm having a loop-engaging hook and being positioned in immediate adjacency to the path of movement of the needles, a loop pusher mounted to cooperate with the hook and the needles, and means includingthe arm 'for converting the rotational movement of the shaft intooscillating movement of the loop pusher.

6. In combination, in a sewing machine-a needle plate for supporting fabric in position to be stitched, a threaded needle and a hook needle movable together for projection through fabric supported upon the needle plate,- means for moving' the needles to project them through and to withdraw them from the supported fabric, a-continuously rotated shaft, a pivoted arm positioned to extend into immediate adjacency tothe end of the shaft, interengaging means between the shaft end and the arm' for converting thecontinuous' rotation ofthe shaft into oscillating mo- 13101101 the arm, the arm having a loop-enga ing hook and beingpositioned: in immediate adjacency to the path 'of movementr ofthe needles, a loop pusher mounted to oscillate between the needles, andmeans for converting the rotational movement of the'shaft into oscillating movement of thelooppusherr I g 7. In combination, in asewing machinaa needle plate for supporting fabric in position to be stitched, a threaded needle and a hook needle movable together for projection filrough fabric supported upon the-needle plate, means for moving the needles to project themthrough and to withdraw themfrom the supported fabri'c,.a continuously rotated shaft a pivoted arm positioned to extend into immediate adjacency to the end of the shaft, interengaging means between the shaft endand the arm for converting the continuous rotation of the shaft into oscillating motion of the arm, the arm having a loop-engaging. hook and being positioned in immediate adjacency to the path ofmovementof the needles, a loop pusher pivoted for movement transversely ofthe arm and in position to cooperate withthe hookand the'needles,. and means including the arm for converting the rotational movement of the shaft into oscillating movementof the loop pusher.

8. A- sewing machine for producing a chain stitch comprising. a base, a head extending over the base, a needle bar mounted for movement in the head and towards and away from the base, feeding means in the base to feed. fabric to be stitched, a threaded needle and a hook needle car-- r-ied by the needle bar, a continuously rotated shaft in the head for imparting. reciprocating movement to the needle bar and for driving the feeding means, aneedle-plate on the base for supporting fabric to be stitched, a continuously rotated shaft mounted beneath the base, an oscillating hook mounted beneath the base, a pusher mounted beneaththe base, and means driven by the shaft beneath the base for imparting oscillating motion to the hook and pusher forstretching a loop from the threadedneedle to the hook needle.

9; A sewing machine for producing a chain stitch comprising a base, a head extending over the base, aneedle bar mounted for movement in the head and towards and away from the base,

feeding means in the base to feed fabric to be stitched, a threaded needle and a hook needle carried by the needle bar, a continuously rotated shaft in the head for imparting reciprocating movement to the needle bar and for driving the feeding means, a needle plate on the base for supporting fabric to be stitched, a continuously rotated shaft mounted beneath the base driven from the continuously rotated shaft in the head, an oscillating hook mounted. beneath the base, a pusher mounted beneath the base, and means driven-by the shaft beneath the base for imparting oscillating motion to the and pusher for stretching a loop from" the threaded needleto the hook needle;

10. A sewing machine for produ'c'i'ng'a' chain stitch comprising a base, a head extending over the base, a needle bar mounted for movement in the. head and towards" and away from the base. feedingmeans in the base to feed fabric to be stitched, a threaded needle anda hook" needle cerriedby the needle bar, a continuously rotated shaft in the head" for imparting lcipidcating movement to the needle bar and for driving the feeding-means, a needle plate err-the ba's ef'or' supfio'rtirigifabf'ic' to be stitched, a continuously totated shaft mounted beneath the base driven from and at twice the speed of the continuously rotated shaft in the head, an oscillating hook mounted beneath the base, a pusher mounted beneath the base, and means driven by the shaft beneath the base for imparting oscillating motion to the hook and pusher for stretching a loop from the threaded needle to the hook needle.

11. A sewing machine for producing a chain stitch comprising a base, a head extending over the base, a needle bar mounted for movement in the head and towards and away from the base, feeding means in the base to feed fabric to be stitched, a threaded needle and a hook needle carried by the needle bar, a continuously rotated shaft in the head for imparting reciprocatin movement to the needle bar and for driving the feeding means, a needle plate on the base for supporting fabric to be stitched, a continuously rotated shaft mounted beneath the base driven from and substantially parallel to the continuously rotated shaft in the head, an oscillating hook mounted beneath the base, a pusher mounted beneath the base, and means driven by the shaft beneath the base for imparting oscillating motion to the hook and pusher for stretching a loop from the threaded needle to the hook needle.

12. A sewing machine for producing a chain stitch comprising a base, a head extending over the base, a needle bar mounted for movement in the head and towards and away from the base, feeding means in the base to feed fabric to be stitched, a threaded needle and a hook needle carried by the needle bar, a continuously rotated shaft in the head for imparting reciprocating movement to the needle bar and for driving the feeding means, a needle plate on the base for supporting fabric to be stitched, a continuously rotated shaft mounted beneath the base substantially parallel to the continuously rotated shaft in the head, an oscillating hook mounted beneath the base, a pusher mounted beneath t e base, and means driven by the shaft beneath the base for imparting oscillating motion to the hook and pusher for stretching a loop from the threaded needle to the hook needle.

13. A sewing machine for producing chain stitching comprising a needle bar, a needle plate, the needle bar having athread-bearing needle and a hook, the needle bar being reciprocable to pass the needle and the hook back and forth through the needle plate, an arm beneath the plate, a pivot for the arm, the pivot and the arm bein located so that the arm may oscillate in a plane immediately adjacent the plane of movement 01 the needle and the hook, a continuously rotating shaft extending transversely of the plane of oscillation of the arm, the shaft terminating so that its end is substantially in contact with the arm but permits the arm to oscillate across the plane of the end of the shaft, and cooperative means in the shaft and the arm for converting the rotational motion of the shaft into oscillating motion of the arm, the arm having a loop engaging means for stretching a loop from the needle onto the hook.

14. A sewing machine for producing chain stitching comprising a needle bar, a needle plate, the needle bar having a thread-bearing needle and a hook, the needle bar being reciprocable to pass the needle and the hook back and forth through the needle plate, an arm beneath the plate, a pivot for the arm, the pivot and the arm being located so that the arm may oscillate in a plane immediately adjacent the plane of movement of needle and hook, a continuously rotaing horizontal shaft extending transversely of the plane of oscillation of the arm,- the shaft terminating so that its end is substantially in contact with the arm but permits the arm to oscillate across the end of the shaft, means associated with the shaft and the arm for converting the rotational motion of the shaft into oscillating motion of the arm, the arm having a loop engaging means for stretching a loop from the needle onto the hook, a vertical shaft, means actuated by the vertical shaft for pressing a stretched loop onto the hook, and means associated with said arm and said vertical shaft for converting the rotational movement of the horizontal shaft into oscillating movement of the pressing means,

l5.'A sewing machine for producing chain stitching comprising a needle bar, a needle plate, the needle bar having a thread-bearing needle and a hook, the needle bar being reciprocable to pass the needle and the hook back and forth through the needle plate, an arm beneath the plate, a pivot for the arm, the pivot and the arm being located so that the arm may oscillate in a plane immediately adjacent the plane of movement of needle and hook, a continuously rotating shaft extending transversely of the plane of oscillation of the arm, the shaft terminating so that its end is substantially in contact with the arm but permits the arms to oscillate across the plane of the end of the shaft, means associated with the shaft and the arm for converting the rotational motion of the shaft into oscillating motion of the arm, the arm having a loop engaging means for stretching a loop from the needle onto the hook, a cam immediately at the end of the shaft, and a rocker arm, the rocker arm carrying means for pressing a stretched loop onto the hook, the rocker arm having means to cooperate with the cam for converting the rotational movement of the shaft into oscillating loop-pressing movement of the rocker arm.

16. A sewing machine having a base, a head carried by the base, fabric supporting and feeding means carried by and associated with the base, needles movable relatively to the head for cooperation with the supporting means, a presser foot carried by the head and movable relatively to the head to engage against fabric positioned upon the fabric-supporting means, means carried by the head for moving the needles towards, away from and through fabric retained by the presser foot upon the fabric-supporting means, and means carried beneath the fabric-supporting means for cooperation with the needles in forming stitches in fabric supported and fed relatively to the base, said cooperating means including an oscillating hook and an oscillating pusher for engaging thread upon a needle and stretching it into engagement with the other needle, and means including a continuously rotating shaft beneath the base for imparting an arcuate oscillation to the hook past the needles, the movement of the needles and the cooperating means with relation to each other and to fabric upon the fabric-supporting means being independent of the position of the presser foot with relation to the fabric-supporting means.

17. In combination, in a sewing machine, a base, a head extending from the base, a needle plate associated with the base, needles movable relatively to the head to cooperate with the needle plate, a presser foot carried by and movable rlativlyto'the base-for'coopeiatin'g with the needle plate to retain'fab'ric thereon, a drive in the head for the needles, a hook'to engage a loopupon one needle and 'draw it in the direction of the other needle, a pusher for forcing the loop against the other needle, a shaft carried by the base and continuously rotated by said drive, means carried by the shaft for moving the hool; into loop-engaging relation and for moving the pusher intoloop forcing relation, the movement of the needles relative to the needle plate and the movement of the hook and pusher relative to' the needles-being entirely-independent of'the position of the presser foot with relation to the needle plate.

18.In combination, in -a sewing machine, 'a needle plate'for'supporting fabric in position to be stitched, means for retaining'fab'ric to be stitched ini position; farther stitching :operation, athrea'dedineedle and a'hook'needie movable togetherYorjprojection" through iabric supported iipon' the'nedle plate, means formovingthe needles to project them "through and to withdraw them from the supported fabric, a vibrating member for engagin a ithread' loop on' the" projecte'd' threaded needleand -drawing it overand upon'the hook of the hook'needle, and a continuously rotating shaftior vibratingthe memher, the movement of the needles relative'to the needle plate andof themeansiormoving the needles to proj ect them through the supported fabric and'the relation 'ofitheheedlesto the vibrating member'being' wholly independent'oi'the meansfor retaining fabric inpositlon for the stitching operation.

JOSEPH- SCHIFTER. 

